“Whenever we have an opportunity to engage with each other as human beings and to minimize the differences between us based on disparity in resources, then we should do it.”
– William T. Vollman (b. 1959), American author, journalist, war correspondent, 2005 National Book of The Year (Fiction) Award Winner
“Church shopping” can be uplifting, albeit frustrating and time consuming, too. Church shopping on the morning of one of the worst acts of hate and terror in our history can be enlightening and eye-opening, as it was yesterday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.
Scott Rains, an associate pastor at Hope, gave one of the best talks I’ve ever heard. Not “sermons.” Not “lessons.” Scott just talked with us. All 1100 or so of us. “No Longer Slaves” was the title, and he cast a brilliant context on the topic of slavery. “It would be too easy to just slip to the metaphor os US history when we talk about slavery…” he began. He’s right. “Slavery” is one of those polarizing words, deservedly so. And, when we consider it in the broader context, it is no less destructive and divisive.
We can be slaves to others, and millions still are, sadly. We can also be slaves to fear. Money. Guilt. Sex. Drugs. Violence. Doubt. We can be slaves to work. To hobbies. To perception and pretense.
When we see or acknowledge this slavery we can settle in with resignation to the servitude we find ourselves prone to. Or, we can take action.
Over the weekend, I also got some clear perspective on the disparity between the “haves” and “have nots.” I’ve long been one of those who’s gotten very lucky, but who has also worked very hard, strived for and relished in the benefits that excess appears to provide. Cool trips. Great golf courses. Expensive cars. Nice clothes. Great food and drink. When we consider the impact of one night out with a great steak, a great bottle of wine, some music and after-dinner entertainment and the $20 Uber ride home — when we consider it in the context of what that investment could mean for someone who will sleep on a park bench tonight, we see an opportunity to engage with each other as human beings, and minimize the differences between us.
I don’t have the answer, and I don’t believe the answer is to immediately deny ourselves of everything we enjoy. And, while I don’t have the answer, I have an answer, worth considering.
Take action.
When we see an opportunity to take some action toward making something better, toward minimizing the differences between us based on disparity in resources, we should do it, to Vollman’s point, to Pastor Scott’s talk and to our basic expectations of ourselves as Difference Makers.
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